Lamp shade and means for supporting the same



July 11, 1933.

J. E. RICHMOND LAMP SHADE AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAME Filed Sept. 9, 1952 VQINVENTOR (/06 jP/hflami My ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOHN E. RICHMOND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK LAMP snann AND MEA s FOR SUPPORTING THE SAME Application filed September 9, 1932. Serial No. 632,431.

This invention relates to lamp shades and means for supporting the same.

One object of the present invention'is to provide an attractive small lamp shade and means for supporting same particula ly in use with relation to miniature lamps frequently used in hotel and other dining rooms and at times 'in lobbies and halls of large establishments and homes.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined electric lamp shade support and finishing ring whereby in a unitary deviceto provide both foran effective supporting of the shade and strength-em ing it and giving to it an ornamental edge.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lamp shade having a four point supporting engagement with the bulb of an electric light so as to support the shade firmly in proper upright relation to the bulb.

V'Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combinatioirand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the .ccompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that'various changes in the form, proportion and minor details. of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the i11 vention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is an elevation embodying the presentinvention. H

Fig. 2 is a view partly -'in eleyation and partlyv in section, illustrating the shade mounted on an electric light bulb.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the coinbin d shade strengthening and ornamenting ring and the supporting means prior to attachment to the shade.

Fig. at is an inverted plan view of-the invention unattached to a lamp.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail fragmentary sectional view through the edging ring and one of its sockets for the reception of a leg or arm of one of the flexible supporting devices.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanyin drawing, the reference character lillustrates a miniature or other type of elec tric lamp which may be of any suitable material and shape and having the conventional type of electric light bulb 2, having a semispherical lower portion and a substantially conical upper portion.

A lamp shade is illustrated at 3 and it may be of any suitable material such as stifi or flexible paper treated and ornamented as maybe desired and, as shown, it is preferably of frusto-conical formation. i

A ring. f of channel shape in cross section is fitted over the minor end of the frustoconical shade to stiffen and to finish the annular minor end of the shade. This ring 4 is preferably composed .of relatively thin sheet metal and it may be readily tightly clamped on the minor end of the shade or otherwise firmly secured thereon. To'clamp the edge of the minor end of the shade in he groove of the channel shaped ring 4 the sides of the ring may be compressed entirely around. the ring by pressure on either or bot-l1 sides or the connection may be effected otherwise as by a spaced pinchingaction on the sides of the ring. If desired, the minorend of the shade may be inserted between the walls of the ring 4: and by pressure exerted in any suitable manner against the outer surface of the inner wall expand the latter wall whereby the minor end of the shade may be clamped or loosely seated in the groove of the ring and held therein against disconnection therewith.

The ring ispreferably formed by cutting or otherwise manipulating a. relatively thin blank of sheet metal and as the blank for the ring-is cut out provision also made to cut out lugs 5 which may be rolled or otherwise worked into tubular form to provide spaced pairs of sockets 6 and 7.

v A pair of supporting members are shown at A and B.- Each supporting member includes a pair of spaced yieldable legs 8, the free ends of which are secured in'the respective pairs of sockets 6 and 7 and held therein by virtue of a tight fit in the sockets or by a pinching action on the sockets as should be well understood.

The outer ends of the respective pairs of le s 8 are connected by a yieldable loop form of bight 9 which loops are adapted to snap over and embrace opposite sides of the bulb 2, as shown particularly in Fig. 2 and by reason of the bight port-ion 9 engaging the under side of the bulb they exert a constant down ward pull on the supporting legs 8 to hold the lower ends a? of the legs firmly on the upper portion of the bulb and cause the lower ends of the legs 8 at a? to engage the upper portion of the bulb 2, therebyholding the shade perpendicular and centrally with relation to the bulb. The supporting legs 8 which are substantially straight are connected at their upper ends to the ring substantially equidistantly around the same at widely spaced points to provide a four point contact with the conical upper portion of the light bulb above the bulge there f, and the curved lower portions 9 of the supporting members are adapted to snap over the luilb into engagement with the lower portion thereof.

From the foregoing when read in comic"- tion with the accompanying drawing. it will be seen that I provide a simple, inexpensive, durable and effective means including flexible legs for a four point support for the lamp shade and that said means includes a reinforcing ring for the edge of the upper open end of the shade which in addition to reinforcing the top of the shade gives an ornamental effect to the top edge of the shade.

It will also be seen that by virtue of the su porting legs being secured in the sockcts projecting inwardly from the inner wall 0: the channel ring 4 thatI provide a simple unitarydevice for the purposes herein described and which provides for a highly satisfactory use of small or miniature lamps for display. lighting or other purposes.

hat is claimed is: v v 1. A combined electric lamp shade support and a finishing and strengthening ring of channel shape embracing the upper edge of the shade and secured thereto and having inwardly directed tubular elements forming sockets, and flexible supporting loop shaped members secured in said sockets and constructed and arranged to have embracing engagementwith opposite sides of an electric light bulb to support the shade efiectively on the bulb. 2. A combined electric lamp shade support and a finishing and strengthening ring of channel shape embracing the upper edge pf the shade and secured thereto and having lnwardly directed tubular shaped elements forming pliable sockets, and a pair of substantially U-shaped members, each including arms secured in the respective sockets and having the bight portion thereof formed into loop shape to embrace the bulb to thereby support the shade effectively on the bulb.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a sup porting means for shades of electric lamps comprising an annular channel shaped ring having integral, )rojecting, pliable, tubular sockets extending from the inner wall of the channel shaped ring, and supporting members secured in said sockets.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a sup porting means for shades of electric lamps comprising an annular channel shaped ring having integral, projecting, pliable, tubular sockets extending from the inner wall of the channel shaped ring, and supporting members secured in said sockets, said supporting members being substantially U-shape.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a supporting means for shades of electric lamps comprising an annular channel shaped ring having integral, projecting, pliable, tubular sockets extending from the inner Wall of the channel shaped ring, and supporting members secured in said sockets, said supporting members being substantialy U- shape with the bight portions thereof having loop formation to embrace an electric light bulb.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a supporting means for shades of electric lamps comprising an annular channel shaped ring having pairs of sockets, and a pair of flexible substantially U-shaped supporting members having the free ends secured in the respective pairs of sockets and their outer ends formed into loops to embrace an electric light bulb.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a device for supporting shades of electric lamps on an electric light bulb having a semi-spherical lower portion and a substantially conical upper portion, comprising an annular channel shaped ring, and a pair of supporting members each composed of substantially straight upper portions, the straight upper portions of thesupporting members being connected at their upper ends to the ring substantially equi-distantly around the same at widely. spaced points to provide a four point contact with the conical portion of the light bulb above the bulge thereof, and a. curved lower portion connecting the lower ends of the straiglit upper portions and adapted to snap over the bulb and engage the undersidethereof below the bulge of the bulb to exert a constantdownward pull on the lower ends of the straight upper portions to hold the latter firmly on the conical upper portion of the bulb. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of September, 1932.

JOHN E. RICHMOND. 

